Earlier today, the provincial government announced the conclusion of its postsecondary funding review with a commitment to infuse $6.4 billion into the base funding for Ontario’s colleges and universities over the next four years.
In addition, the province also lifted a domestic tuition freeze that has been in place since 2019, when tuition rates were also decreased by 10 per cent.
Today’s announcement represents a historic and transformative investment in postsecondary education in the province of Ontario, and it is the culmination of years of tireless advocacy on our part and across our sector. I want to thank Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES), Nolan Quinn, and the provincial government for recognizing the crucial role that colleges play in developing a skilled and responsive workforce and in supporting our province’s key strategies for economic resilience and growth.
This announcement also comes in the midst of our own budget process for 2026-2027, and as we continue to navigate the dramatic enrolment shifts driven by changes in federal policy. We expect to receive further details regarding today’s announcement, including how funds will be allocated, over the next few weeks. Once this information is shared, we can assess the impact on our budgets over the short and longer term, and we will provide further updates as that process unfolds.
We will also continue to advocate strongly to the federal government for recognition of the intrinsic value of Canada’s colleges, to address the disparity that exists between colleges and universities in federal policy, and to return post-graduate work permit eligibility to a system that provides equal access to international graduates across our postsecondary sector.
The effectiveness of our provincial advocacy efforts comes from our ability to tell compelling stories that demonstrate the value of the applied education that colleges provide and the contributions of college graduates in all corners of our society. I want to acknowledge that every one of those stories reflects the amazing work that takes place across NC every day, all in support of our students’ success.
